US layoffs plunged in September, but hiring plans slumped to their lowest level in 16 years amid economic uncertainty, according to a new report. American employers announced 54,064 job cuts last month, a striking 37% drop from August, according to a Challenger, Gray & Christmas report released Thursday. It’s the third time this year that layoffs came in lower than the previous month, indicating employers are easing off a path of steep back-to-back job cuts. But so far this year, companies have